Personal Password Manager

As we emphasized in our recent story on password-cracking software, one of the best defenses against your passwords being broken is to create strong ones. This means using a combination of different characters, including mixed cases, numerals, and even punctuation. And, of course, you should change passwords frequently. But who can keep track of such a complicated system of secret codes? Enter the Mandylion Labs ebplite Personal Password Manager ($69.95 list). This password security device can store account and password information for up to 20 log-ons and, at 2.5- by 1.5- by 0.4-inches (HWD), fits easily on your keychain. The ebplite can also auto-generate random-combination passwords for added protection.

Effectively using the ebplite requires that you take some time to read the manual and practice operating the device. The ebplite has only five buttons and a complex menu system. The most difficult task is setting accounts, so an administrator should probably be in charge of the initial setup in a large company. The complicated setup and menu design, however, makes the device more secure should you lose it. To activate the fob, you press the left, right, up, and down keys in a pattern you've previously set, which is basically a master password. And after a short period of inactivity, the fob will shut itself off. If you want to be really serious about security, you can take advantage of the self-destruct option which lets you program the device to erase its memory after a specified number of failed attempts to enter the master password pattern.

As slick as it is, not everyone needs a device like the ebplite. There's definitely a learning curve, especially if you need to set the device up yourself. But if secure passwords are important to you, the ebplite will make managing them easier.